Thomas Bower

Biddulph Grange
Sandbach Town Hall
Sandbach Town Hall

Thomas Bower (1835–1919) was an English architect and surveyor based in Nantwich, Cheshire. Thomas Bower (1835–1919) was an English architect and surveyor based in Nantwich, Cheshire.

Early life and education

Bower was baptised at Nantwich on 24 November 1835, the son of Thomas and Annette Bower.

At the time of the 1851 census, aged 15, Bower was recorded as a scholar at Audlem Grammar School, with his birthplace given as Nantwich.

Bower subsequently trained as an architect under Sir George Gilbert Scott. Writing in 1883, James Hall described Bower as a "native resident, and pupil of Sir Gilbert Scott".

Career

Bower established an architectural and surveying practice in Nantwich. His early works included St Philip's Church, Kelsall and the rebuilding of the Lamb Hotel in Hospital Street, Nantwich.

In 1878 Bower directed repairs to the south porch of St Mary's Church, Nantwich. Hall's contemporary history identifies Bower as the architect responsible for the work.

In 1905 Bower entered into partnership with Ernest Harcourt Edleston (1880–1964). Edleston's obituary in 1964 stated that, after qualifying as an architect, he joined Bower at Nantwich to form the firm of Bower, Edleston and Co.


He worked in partnership with Ernest H. Edleston at the Nantwich firm Bower & Edleston, which he founded in 1854. He is particularly associated with the Gothic Revival style of architecture.

In 1883, Bower was living at 140–142 Hospital Street in Nantwich. In 1914, he and Edleston had offices at Bank Chambers on Churchyard Side in the town square.

Works

Bower's buildings include:

References

  1. ↑ Church Plans Online: Bower, Thomas: b. 1835 - d. 1919 of Nantwich (accessed 20 February 2008)
  2. ↑ Parish register of baptisms, Nantwich, Cheshire, 24 November 1835, entry for Thomas Bower, son of Thomas and Annette Bower; image viewed in Cheshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813–, Ancestry.
  3. ↑ 1851 England Census, Audlem, Cheshire, registration district Nantwich, sub-district Bunbury, enumeration district 6b, piece 2170, folio 381, p. 15.
  4. ↑ Hall, James (1883). A History of the Town and Parish of Nantwich, or Wich-Malbank, in the County Palatine of Chester. Nantwich: Printed for the author. p. 309.
  5. ↑ Hall, James (1883). A History of the Town and Parish of Nantwich, or Wich-Malbank, in the County Palatine of Chester. Nantwich: Printed for the author. p. 309.
  6. ↑ "F.R.I.B.A.". Crewe Chronicle. 1 July 1939.
  7. ↑ "Death of a well-known architect". Nantwich Chronicle. 8 February 1964.
  8. 1 2 Pevsner & Hubbard, p. 288
  9. ↑ Bower Edleston Architects: Index (accessed 20 July 2010)
  10. ↑ The Arts and Crafts Home: Gothic Revival Architecture (accessed 20 February 2008)
  11. ↑ Hall, p. 53
  12. ↑ Kelly's Directory (1914)
  13. ↑ Pevsner & Hubbard, p. 249
  14. ↑ Historic England. "Church of St Phillip (Grade II) (1130533)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  15. ↑ Historic England. "Church of St Phillip (Grade II) (1130533)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  16. ↑ Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 586
  17. ↑ Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 117
  18. ↑ Pevsner & Hubbard, p. 287
  19. ↑ Historic England. "Barclays Bank, 11 Churchyard Side (1138729)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  20. ↑ Historic England. "Barclays Bank (Grade II) (1138729)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  21. ↑ Nantwich Web: Nantwich Free Library (accessed 20 February 2008)
  22. ↑ Pevsner & Hubbard, pp. 40, 331
  23. ↑ Historic England. "Town Hall and Market Hall (1130352)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  24. ↑ Historic England. "Town Hall and Market Hall (Grade II) (1130352)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  25. 1 2 Pevsner & Hubbard, p. 191
  26. ↑ Historic England. "The Old Vicarage (1136132)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  27. ↑ Historic England. "The Old Vicarage (Grade II) (1136132)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  28. ↑ Hospital Street Association: Combermere House: 148 Hospital Street Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 20 February 2008)
  29. ↑ Newman & Pevsner, p. 468
  30. ↑ Thorner.net: Biddulph Grange (accessed 20 February 2008)
  31. ↑ Historic England. "Crewe Hall (1138666)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  32. ↑ Historic England. "Crewe Hall (Grade I) (1138666)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  33. ↑ Historic England. "Drinking Fountain (1330396)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  34. ↑ Historic England. "Drinking Fountain (Grade II) (1330396)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 June 2016.

Sources